odd uni idea

d.kathrens@genie.geis.com
Wed, 1 Mar 95 11:16:00 UTC

Darwin Teague (darwin@dorite.use.com) writes:

>Here is something I've always wanted to do and wondered if it's feasible
>or if anyone has ever done it.

>Do you know the bikes they sell with the huge front wheel? I think
>Schwinn still sells them. I have always wanted to take the
>handlebars/frame off and put a unicycle seat up there. Would this be
>easy or hard to ride? I would think one would have trouble keeping the
>speed down to a managable level.

I normally ride a 24" uni, but I have ridden a unicycle with a 45" diameter
wheel belonging to Tom Miller of The Unicycle Factory in Kokomo IN. Free
mounts are a challenge but after only a few minutes, with instruction from
Tom, I was able to mount and ride unassisted.

I can tell you that riding slower is much easier on a big wheel. I seemed to
have all day to correct my balance and with the inertia of the big wheel, I
didn't work to keep the wheel under me, I worked to keep me on top of the
wheel. When you stomp on those pedals it's like stomping on the top of a
fencepost.

Idling and spins would be tough, but for on the road speed cruising or
dreamily slow rolling it is the greatest. And you can see a looong
way down the road from that height. Probably safer than a bicycle if a car
were to hit you, it would go right under you.

I want one really bad and I had the same idea as you, find a Schwinn replica
penny farthing. Tom could build me a custom big wheel uni if I give him about
$500, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

He told me how he made his first ones, back in his high school days.
He made his own hubs out of small kids-bicycle chainwhweels by cutting
the teeth off and drilling spoke holes around the circumference. He welded
two of these to a steel bar 5/8" in diameter and filed flats for cottered
cranks. The spokes were simply lengths of steel wire with spoke threads
rolled into one end and a "dogleg" bent into the other end. The rim was made
by cutting and carefully uncurving two or three 26" steel bike rims and weld-
ing them together. The tire tread was simply a bulk length of wheelchair
rubber held on by an internal wire and glue. The frame was easily made
Schwinn-style with two pieces of flat bar stock.

I am going to have a big wheel one way or another. Does anyone here know
of a Schwinn or other bike shops with these replica penny farthings
still in stock or if the wheel parts can be ordered?

Dennis Kathrens